Countrywide protests likely to end after govt, TLP reach agreement

The federal government and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Friday reached an agreement to end countrywide protests over the acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.

The ongoing protests are expected to end in the hours to come.

A five-point document of the agreement signed by the two sides is available with Business News.

According to the agreement, the government has agreed that it will raise no objection to the review petition filed by the complainant over Asia Bibi’s acquittal, and that due process will be followed to bar her from leaving the country.

The five points of the agreement are listed below:

1. A review petition has been filed in the Asia Bibi case which is the right of the petitioners. The government will raise no objections over the review petition.

2. Due process will be followed immediately to include the name of Asia Bibi in the Exit Control List (ECL).

3. Immediate legal action will be taken over the martyrdom of any individuals during the protest campaign against the acquittal of Asia Bibi.

4. All those arrested on October 30 or afterwards in the protest campaign against Asia Bibi’s acquittal will be released immediately.

5. The TLP apologises to anybody whose sentiments have been unnecessarily hurt during the incident.

The agreement was signed by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sahibzada Dr. Noorul Haq Qadri, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat representing the government, and Pir Mohammad Afzal Qadri Mohammad Waheed Noor from the TLP.

“After almost 48 hours, we have reached a conclusion after detailed negotiations including both federal and provincial government representatives,” Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri told media.

Qadri said the government had agreed to the protesters demand that it would not object to a review petition over Asia Bibi’s acquittal.

He further said that due process of law would also be followed where the Supreme Court or High Court would be requested to include her name in the ECL.